Ears & Hearing

Ear impressions are used to make custom hearing aids, earplugs and musician's earphones. When impressions are taken properly these custom devices are very comfortable and do the job well. The...

More than 28 million Americans are deaf or have hearing impairment, according to the Merck Manual of Medical Information. Nerve deafness is the loss of hearing that can stem from problems with the...

Tinnitus, commonly known as "ringing of the ears," affects an estimated 50 million Americans, according to the American Tinnitus Association, and is often characterized by whistling, clicking or...

Vestibular diseases can have many causes, from infection to injury. The vestibular system controls the body's ability to maintain balance, so disorders in the vestibular systems can be pretty...

If you're suffering from a middle ear infection, seek immediate medical attention. Several procedures and tests can determine the extent of your condition. Depending on your symptoms, the doctor...

Tinnitus is a high-pitched noise in the ears, often described as a high squeal or ringing sound. Tinnitus may come and go or be a constant presence. According to the Mayo Clinic, about one in...

Ringing in the ears without an external source, or tinnitus, has a number of possible causes. These can include stress, bacterial infection, nerve damage, high blood pressure, stiff ear bones or...

Earwax or cerumen, is a mixture of glandular secretions and skin cells of the outer ear canal that protect your ears against infections and tiny particles by cleaning and trapping dirt in the ear...

Ear infections are most common in babies and young children because their ear tubes are smaller and more prone to blockages. However, ear infections can occur in people of any age, especially...

Hearing aids come in many different styles and types. Different aids help people with different types of hearing loss. A broken hearing aid sometimes needs to be brought back to the audiologist,...

There's nothing worse than hearing a ringing in your ears. Follow these to figure out what can cause ringing in the ears, how you can help prevent it, and possible cures for it.

Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus, can be caused by age, infections in the ear, certain medications, damage to the ear from constant exposure to loud noises, or other causes, including...

Our ears are precious parts of our body that many people take for granted, until something goes wrong with them. Some people think the only hearing problem hearing loss, which then results in...

Plugged ears can be a nuisance, causing limited hearing that can affect your daily life. Ears can get plugged when your allergies become irritated, if you are sick with a cold or flu and when you...

Cholesteatoma is a lesion at the base of the skull. It is potentially fatal because of the possibility of complications to the central nervous system such as brain abscesses or meningitis. A...

Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the labyrinthine process in the inner ear. Bacteria or viruses cause it in conjunction with a local or systemic infection. Viral labyrinthitis is the most...

Petrositis is when the temporal bone, the bone surrounding the ear within the skull, is inflamed. This occurs most commonly when their has been a middle ear infection. Infection involving the...

For maximum functioning, a hearing impaired person relies both on the capacities of his hearing aids and the use of lip reading, or speech reading as it is now called. No matter how...

Hearing aids have come a long way. Gone are the days of the one-size-fits-all style hearing aid. They now come in varying styles and technologies. Choosing one has also become easier. Armed with...

Hearing loss is usually a very gradual process. In many cases it goes undetected and untreated for too long, causing irreversible damage. However by following some simple steps early on you can...

Otosclerosis is a bone disease that affects the bones in the middle ear. It is an autosomal dominant inherited trait, although its expression and penetrance are both variable. Otosclerosis is much...

Vestibular neuronitis is an acute dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear. An imbalance in neuronal input from the two vestibular apparatuses appears to be the cause. Most cases of...

Sufferers of hearing loss can get hearing aid assistance from numerous groups, including business, medical and charitable organizations. The cost of a hearing aid should not prevent individuals...

Vertigo is that wonderful rush we got as kids after spinning around and around in circles, then trying to walk straight. As adults, we don't like that sensation so much. We're uncomfortable...

Diver's ear, also known as ear squeeze, occurs when the eustachian tube malfunctions and does not open as a diver swims deeper into the water. Pressure builds and causes pain and possible eardrum...

Choosing a cochlear implant can be a daunting task. There are three major brands: Cochlear, Advanced Bionics and Med El. Compare the processors, design, function and battery life when shopping a...

Children grow and mature in different areas at various times. A delay in certain developmental milestones could indicate a hearing loss. Looking for signs along the way and getting early treatment...

Usher Syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting both the ears and eyes. The most common symptoms are moderate to severe hearing impairment and vision that deteriorates dramatically over time....

Usher Syndrome is a condition that can severely hamper a person's vision and hearing. Balance may also be affected. There is no cure for Usher Syndrome, but it is possible to treat Usher Syndrome...